(upbeat music) - Coming up next on NewsDepth, FEMA teams respond to communities hit by the hurricane.

Dock workers reached a settlement ending the port strike.

Abby tells us everything to know before registering to vote.

You've heard of the Wright brothers, but have you heard of the Wright sister?

NewsDepth is now.

(upbeat music) Hurricane Helene is the second most detrimental storm to hit the United States in the last 55 years, only behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Hello everybody, I'm Gabriel Kramer.

Thank you for joining us.

Last week, president Joe Biden toured storm damage in North Carolina.

He had ordered up to 1000 active duty soldiers to deliver critical aid, food and water to the hardest hit communities.

But FEMA is still struggling to reach some remote areas.

FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency and it is the national organization that helps the United States prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

Isabel Rosales joins a team heading into one of the most remote locations in North Carolina.

- Rare and exclusive access.

Look at that.

It just falls apart.

Guided up the Blue Ridge Mountains by one of FEMA's 24 deployed urban search and rescue teams, we're deep in hard hit Avery County, North Carolina.

Just collapsed all the sidewalk.

Portions of Beach Mountain, a remote ski resort town left unrecognizable by Helene's wrath.

Sides of the road just like washed off there.

These winding mountain roads made further difficult to navigate by obstacles.

We are entering an area that's closed off to regular people.

Only first responders are allowed and it is because it's so treacherous.

We're seeing it for ourselves like thick mud all over the place.

Trees that are down, portions of the road has crumbled down.

So I'm really concentrating here.

This is difficult to drive.

And even when debris and fallen trees are cleared by chainsaw and manpower to make way for rescuers, another major barrier.

This FEMA supervisor who's been on his cell phone trying to get in touch with his team to figure out where they're at.

Division group supervisor Colin Buress pulls us over.

Can't get a signal?

We're seeing for ourselves everything that the governor has been talking about, what Bush issues have been talking about, how big of a challenge communication is not just for civilians but you guys trying to do these rescue operations.

- It is, you know, when you don't have cell service, email, text, all of that becomes a challenge in the kind of slow springs down.

- Tremendously, right?

How frustrating is that?

- I thought, well, you get used to it.

You know, you get out on the enough of these but you just can kind of adapt and overcome.

- Then by pure luck, a few of his men spot us.

They found him just out of the blue, so this is great.

We're being reunited and here's a command post right here.

This AD member, FEMA team assisting the North Carolina National Guard now on day six of rescue and survivors stranded and cut off from help, they huddle over maps - Beach, mountain seven devils is kind of a priority.

- [Isabel] Working out the next day's urgent search.

How does this work?

You guys are doing grids.

I see this black black line right here.

- Yeah, it's just easier for us to keep up and so we'll send squads, we'll say, you know, pit grid one or grid two, grid three, pit four.

- Before sunset, we roll out.

We came up about three miles, but honestly it feels like 10.

Back down the mountain, a second look at what Helene lead to waste.

Before we can make it down, another danger getting through these torn and treacherous roads.

- This is a special case.

Typically the road's washed out, you know, in a mountain atmosphere like this, you know, hurricanes usually happen, you know, towards the coast, but this is definitely more challenges for us that we haven't faced before.

- [Isabel] Regardless, first responders across the state, push on more than 400 people rescued so far says the governor's office, but the work nowhere near done.

- Thank you, Isabel.

Of course, animals and wildlife have also been affected by the hurricane and animal shelters across the country like this one in Wisconsin, have worked tirelessly to try to find animals a new safe home, but they're not the only ones that have found a new home after the storm.

News Hound has the story for this week's petting zoo.

(upbeat music) (dog barking) Hey there, News Hound, whoa, looks like he is on the trail of something good.

That nose can find a good story from miles away.

So what'd you find today, New Hound?

Is that a baby shark in a freshwater lake?

How'd it get there?

- [Narrator] A baby shark at Lakes Park.

It might sound crazy, but if you know anything about bull sharks, you know they can live just about anywhere.

- Bull sharks are really unique.

They have this adaptation that allows 'em to live in fresh and saltwater environments.

- [Narrator] Susanna Cogburn studies these creatures at Florida Gulf Coast University.

I asked her how it's possible anyone spotted this shark on Sunday and if Hurricane Helene had anything to do with it, - [Susanne] It definitely could be related.

Looking at, you know, kind of the geography of where Lakes Park is the most probable, what happened is it came up through Hendry Creek and especially with the extra flood water, it could have really, you know, pushed that shark there and then when the water receded, it just stayed in Lakes Park.

- [Narrator] Susanne says, living in fresh water might put the shark into a little bit of stress, but as long as it has enough food, it should be okay.

- To find out how this aquatic buddy is adapting to its new home, check out the full video on our website or our YouTube channel.

Thanks as always, News hound and special thanks to our intern Aiden for helping us edit that video.

And don't you worry, I'm not gonna start singing that baby shark song, but let's jump outta the water to see what's going on the ports along the East Coast.

The ports are where ships and boats dock to unload and load goods.

These ships travel across the ocean to bring items like food, clothes, toys, and other goods from one country to another.

And dock workers took to picketing last week to demand better pay and job security.

The US port strike, which shut down shipping ports from Maine to Texas for three days ended last week after dock workers reached a tentative agreement with port operators.

The International Longshoreman's Association or ILA reached a tentative agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance until after the new year.

Delaney Tarpley has reaction from the workers.

(all cheering) - [Delaney] For members of the International Longshoreman's Association, it's a night of celebration.

- It feels great knowing that we saved our jobs.

- This was a real celebratory moment.

- [Delaney] It comes after days of hitting the picket lines.

- No contract.

- [All] No work.

- [Delaney] Our crews captured the moment strikers started packing up after learning the ILA reached a deal with the US Maritime Alliance.

Both groups reached an agreement on wages.

CNN reports, it will lead to a 62% increase over a six year contract.

- Some people are saying, well the amounts that we are asking for are a lot, but they're not taking into consideration what we're up against.

- [Delaney] Port workers say the end of the strike is a testament to the importance of their jobs.

- A lot of people is affected by our jobs and our job is a dangerous job.

- [Delaney] But also a testament to the strength of their union.

- I've been in many strikes in the 60 years I've been here, many strikes and I knew that as long as we stayed together, we could get our result that we wanted, we could get it.

And this proved it today.

- [Delaney] Come January when the deal will expire, workers say they're looking for the same agreement to be finalized.

If not.

- [Man] We will be back out on the picket line.

- Thank you, Delaney.

Okay, we have a brand new politics on point for you.

This one is all about voter registration.

A lot of you might be too young to register.

You have to be at least 18 years old, but I think you're never too young to learn about how our democracy works.

Abby Marshall helps us cover everything you need to know about registering to vote, who can do it, how to do it, and why it's so important.

- Today on Politics on Point, we're going to talk about something super important.

Registering to vote.

Voting is a way for citizens to have a say in how their government is run.

And voter registration is the first step to voting.

So how can a first time voter register to vote?

Well, it's easier than you might think.

Come with me to the Board of Elections to find out.

(upbeat music) - My name is Tony Gallagher.

I'm deputy director here at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

- My name's Mike West.

I'm the manager of the community outreach department for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

If you wanna be a voter, and I hope you do, you have to be a US citizen, you have to be 18 years old or if you're going to be 18 on or before the November election, you can register and vote as well.

- When you register to vote, you'll fill out a form, you'll put your first name, last name, and middle initial.

You'll also put your current address on the registration card, also your date of birth, your ID, which would include a driver's license or last four digits of your social security number and you would sign it as well.

After you submit your voter registration card, we have workers who will put it into our voter registration database.

That information is compared with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Social Security Administration.

After your registration is processed, we mail you what's called an acknowledgement card and with that it'll provide what your current voting location would be if you wanna vote on election day.

The registration deadline is 30 days before the election and at that point, the voter registration database is locked in for all the people who will be voting in that election.

And it's important if you have never registered, you need a register before.

Also, if you've moved or had a name change, you can update it at that time and still be able to vote a regular ballot.

However, if you are registered but maybe you moved and didn't update your address the month before, you can still vote on election day or early here at the Board of Elections by completing a provisional ballot.

- Most people come to vote with a driver's license or state identification card and that's very convenient because if you look at the back of them, there's a barcode and we scan that barcode and their information immediately comes to us on a screen so that we can verify the voter is who they say they are.

So that's really all it takes.

Once you're registered, bring your ID and go to vote.

And of course the final thing after you vote on election day, you'll get an I voted sticker.

- The holiday season has begun and those of the Jewish faith just celebrated one of their biggest holidays of the year.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year making the beginning of the high holy days.

It usually falls in September or October depending on the Hebrew calendar.

Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection, prayer, and celebration.

Traditionally, people observe Rosh Hashanah by attending synagogue services, blowing the shofar and enjoying festive meals that often include sweet foods to symbolize a sweet new Year.

It is also a time for a self-examination and making resolutions for the coming year.

Rash Hashanah lasts two days and it is followed by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

One of those treats associated with the holiday is Hala.

Hundreds gathered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey last week in celebration of Rosh Hashanah.

The group of women and girls gathered to bake this traditional Jewish pastry.

Aziza Schuler explains how this year's holiday has special meaning.

- [Aziza] 800 women and girls, seven simple ingredients all coming together for one purpose to mix, kneed, and braid a beloved Jewish tradition, Halah.

Halah is a commandment, it's a mitzvah from the Bible, from the Torah.

- [Aziza] Typically passed down from mother or grandmother, it's a recipe learned as a child and enjoyed on Shabbat.

Monday evening, Chabad lubovitch of Camden and Burlington counties hosted its mega Halah bake ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, everyone preparing two special loaves for the holiday.

It's round symbolizing the cyclical year.

- The flour, the sugar, the yeast, the oil is all premeasured and that way we can give a little bit of the significance of what each ingredient really means spiritually.

- And we add the sugar.

It's a symbolized sweetness in our life.

So I always add a little pinch at the end for extra sweetness.

Oil was used for the anointing of kings and stuff, so I think of my children.

- [Aziza] As the dough rises, so do a mix of emotions.

Remembering the tragic attacks by Hamas on Israel nearly one year ago on October 7th.

- And here we are a year later and we, you know, we stand in solidarity with our friends, our family.

A lot of us have personal connections.

- [Aziza] Liav and Ofri visiting from Israel are in New Jersey for a one-year immersion program.

- Through October 7th we started making Halah way more often.

- [Aziza] now say an extra blessing over the dough, hoping that as it bakes and they break bread, it'll bring healing to their families.

- Thank you, Aziza.

Now I'm getting hungry.

But let's get back to the news.

Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Suni Williams who was from Ohio and Barry Butch Wilmore have been stranded in space since June 5th.

Williams, the mission's pilot and Wilmore were scheduled to spend just more than a week aboard the ISS, but due to technical difficulties with their spacecraft, they now have been up there for more than 100 days, but they finally have a ride home.

A SpaceX mission just arrived at the International Space Station with two empty seats, the seats that will bring the astronauts back down to earth next year.

Natalia Garcia has their story.

- [Natalia] Two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore traveled to the International Space Station back in June, but things did not go as planned.

Their spacecraft suffered helium leaks and propulsion problems on the first leg of its flight.

Their trip was extended from eight days to eight months.

They have both been in space twice before and are military veterans.

They know how to adapt and be resilient.

The mission's pilot, Suni Williams, says that deployments sometimes change.

A deployment is an assignment for military personnel.

- We're both, you know, Navy, we've both been on deployments.

We're not surprised when deployments gets changed.

I mean, our families extended, our families are used to that as well.

- [Natalia] The astronauts have integrated as part of the team of the Space station, which means they're performing routine maintenance tasks and conducting science experiments.

Experiments like how to water plants without gravity a few months isn't an unusual length of time for astronauts to be at the Space Station.

So there is no worry about food or supplies running out, but Butch appreciates the concern from people back on earth.

- And I just want everybody to know how much we appreciate that.

The concern for us specifically is very heartwarming and like I said, much appreciated.

- [Natalia] The astronauts daily lives in space don't look too different from our lives on earth.

Aside from the scientific research and space walks, they get free time during the weekends and get to celebrate holidays.

They are even voting from space.

- I sent down my request for a ballot today.

As a matter of fact, they should get it to us in a couple of weeks and absolutely yes, it's a very important role that we all play as citizens as to be included in those elections, and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that.

So we're excited about that opportunity.

- Crew 9 a SpaceX mission just stocked at the International Space Station with the important assignment of bringing back Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.

The Crew 9 Ship only had two crew members on board instead of the usual four because Suni and Butch will occupy the empty seats when it returns to Earth in February, 2025.

- We've got a ride home and you know, we're looking forward to the next couple months and doing a lot of stuff for the International Space Station.

- Thank you, Natalia.

And that brings us to our right to us for this episode.

What do you think life would be like in outer space?

You can send us your day-to-day schedule on the ISS using our inbox form online or by sending us an email to newsdev@ideastream.org.

On our last episode, we talked about some tech advances that could help us get a little greener and we wanted to know what are the ways you think technology could help the environment?

Let's listen to some of your ideas by opening our inbox.

Sammy from Mason Elementary in Mason starts us off with Dear NewsDepth, technology can help the environment by looking for earthquakes and wildfires and tsunamis to help the world and people.

That's a great use of the technology, Sammy.

Lexie from Spring Meyer Elementary in Cincinnati would like to see materials help nature.

Technology can help by making a machine that could smush garbage, not just plastic and make it into soil or sand so we would not have as much garbage all over our state.

Fifth grader Zaden from Preston Elementary in Cuyahoga Falls is already using technology to do research.

I think technology can help the environment because if you want to answer something or you need to ask or know something, you can just Google the answers.

And if you want to know something hard, you can use the technology.

Rosalia from Groveport Madison Elementary in Columbus says that even things you use every day can be environmentally conscious.

Technology helps us make metal bottles so we can reuse it.

Have nice cool water instead of plastic ones.

And Manoa from Bar Elementary in Canton would like to see more renewable energy sources.

Dear NewsDepth, I think that wind turbines help the environment because they help with pollution in the air.

Solar panels are also helpful with pollution going away and are great forms of technology being used to help our environment empowering homes.

Great brainstorming by friends, but we're taking off with this next story.

So buckle up and prepare for smooth landing.

Planes can be fascinating to any kid, but especially for one seventh grader in Virginia.

The 12-year-old boy is making history as the youngest student to enroll at a flight academy.

Beverly Kidd has more on this story, which is uplifting in more ways than one.

- [Beverly] From a young age, planes have always fascinated Norfolk resident, Aiden Schneider - At the age eight, he asked me, he says, "Dad, can I go flying?"

I said, sure, took him out for a fam flight here at Norfolk Flight Center.

- [Beverly] On that flight, the instructor let Aiden take the yoke and fly the plane.

- [Aiden] I was just amazed and it was scary, but more amazing than scary.

- First instructor says he knows how to fly, so enrolled him and then all that took off from there.

- [Beverly] Becoming the youngest student ever enrolled at the school.

- We can actually start him at any age.

You know that there are parents given permission and then pretty much they're able to reach the pedals.

- [Beverly] Aiden's flight instructor and owner of the Norfolk Flight Academy, Peter Serena says the seventh grader is a natural.

- Even today, we switched him to another airplane to fly 'cause we had the other one wasn't available.

So with that aspect, he transitioned from one to the other, picked it up, did real nice job flying that one today.

- Looking down on the views and it feels great to see the tree and everything and just the fact that you're practically on the road in the sky.

- [Beverly] 60 flight hours later, Aiden seems very comfortable behind the controls of this single engine Cherokee with a proud mom along for the ride.

He says his friends didn't believe him at first when he told them he could fly a plane.

- When I told them that I was actually flying and then I showed them my flight gear, they were like, that has to be your dad's.

- [Beverly] His dad was in aviation maintenance in the Navy, so maybe that made an impression on the young pilot early on.

Even though he can't get his pilot's license until he's 17, he's already navigated a clear itinerary for the future.

- My long-term goal is to become a commercial pilot.

I don't know what airline yet, but the progression to get there is first to get my private pilot's license for a single engine, which are like these PIs engines.

- Thanks, Beverly.

We've all heard about the Wright brothers who are best known for inventing and building the world's first successful airplane.

What if I told you their journey to the skies wouldn't have been the same without their sister, Catherine Wright.

Today on Know Ohio, Zaria Johnson shines a light on Catherine the unsung hero behind the scenes, - You've probably heard of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, the famous duo who are accredited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane.

But did you know they had a sister who played a crucial role in their success?

Today let's talk about Catherine Wright, the Wright sister.

(upbeat music) Catherine Wright was born in 1874 in Dayton, Ohio.

She was the youngest of the right siblings, growing up, she shared a close bond with her brothers and was an integral part of the family success.

Integral means essential to complete the team.

Unlike her brothers Catherine pursuit of formal education and graduated from Oberlin College, making her one of the first women of her time to achieve such a milestone.

Catherine wasn't just a supportive sister, she was an essential member of the Wright team.

She managed the family household, which allowed her brothers to focus on their experiments.

And she also handled much of the Wright brothers correspondence and business affairs helping to secure patents and deal with legal matters.

One of Catherine's most significant contributions came in the form of moral support.

When the Wright brothers faced skepticism and setbacks, Catherine's unwavering belief in their work provided the encouragement they needed to persevere.

Her presence was especially vital during their trips to Europe where she helped negotiate and promote their aviation achievements.

Catherine was also one of the earliest female passengers in an airplane she flew with Orville in 1909.

Breaking Barriers for Women in Aviation.

Catherine Wright's legacy is a testament to the importance of support and collaboration.

While she may not have been at the controls of the airplane, her contributions were just as crucial in getting it off the ground.

- Thank you, Zaria.

Collaboration can really help a project reach new heights, but sometimes working alone means you can be as creative as you want to be.

For our poll this week, we wanna know, do you like working as a team or working individually?

Jump over to our poll page to vote, you can choose between, I love collaborating with a team, or I prefer to work by myself.

And last week we asked you how often you read in a tip of a week.

But let's get to, well, hold on, let me my reading glasses to read the results.

Wow, a lot of you really like to read.

Although I'm not surprised, 56% of you said you read almost every day.

About 32% of you said that you read at least three times a week.

6% of you told us that you read about two days every week and another 6% of you said you read at least one day a week.

Thank you for voting and thanks for motivating me to read even more.

I gotta stop at the library and pick up a few new books after this.

Okay, we just learned that a lot of you love to read, but how many of you love algebra?

What about basketball and board games?

What if I told you there was a way you could enjoy all three at the same time?

Really, it's true.

You see this week's a plus award winners found a way to do exactly that.

Elena and Eva are sixth graders at Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights, they play a game called NBA Math Hoops.

The board game uses basketball as a way to strengthen algebra skills and relies on teamwork.

Ms. Rebar told us that she is really impressed by how Elena and Eva work as a team while playing.

She told us that not only are they becoming stronger math students, but they become even greater friends.

The girls often use their free time during the school day to play, including recess and lunch.

I can tell all of the math teachers watching right now are excited to hear about these two students practicing math during recess.

Students who play NBA Math hoops can also participate in local, regional and national level competitions.

Eva and Elena got to play at the Rocket Mortgage Field House where the Cleveland Cavaliers play in downtown Cleveland and Elena even advanced all the way to Worlds, which was held this past summer in New York City.

Ms. Rebar told us that their hard work on NBA Math hoops is a great example of how students can live the Warrior Charismas, which are character traits that are important for students at Incarnate Word, those include wisdom, accountability, resilience, and being open-hearted.

This week's A+ award goes to Eva and Elena for their dedication to math, games, and being great friends.

And that's a wrap for this week's show.

But let's keep the conversation going.

You know, we always wanna hear from you and there are plenty of ways to do it.

You can send us a letter, we're at 1375 Euclid Avenue.

That's Cleveland, Ohio, Zip code here, 44115.

And you can email us at newsdepth@ideastream.org.

Plus you can catch all of our special segments on YouTube.

Hit subscribe if you're old enough so you don't miss out on any of our new videos.

Thank you for joining us, I'm Gabriel Kramer.

We'll see you right back here next week and happy Filipino American History Month.

(upbeat music) - [Kid] NewsDepth is made possible by Grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

(upbeat music)